Camera Module

This application claims the benefit under 35 USC 119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2025-0042011 filed on Apr. 1, 2025, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

The present disclosure relates to a camera module.

A camera module may be installed in a smartphone, a laptop computer, a vehicle, or other apparatus. For effective operation of the camera module, external light needs to enter the camera module without interference. However, during use, a foreign substance may adhere to an area where light enters the camera module, and such a foreign substance may interfere with the light entering the camera module.

Accordingly, a camera module capable of removing a foreign substance attached to an area where light is incident is desirable.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In one general aspect, a camera module includes a lens barrel; a wiper disposed in a region in which light is incident toward the lens barrel; a supporter connected to the wiper; and a driving module configured to provide power to rotate the supporter, wherein the driving module includes a driving member having a magnetic property and including a part inserted into the supporter and being slidingly movable relative to the supporter; and a coil configured to generate a magnetic field to move the driving member.

A sliding hole having a predetermined length may be formed in the supporter in a length direction of the supporter, and the driving member may include a magnetic member including an N-pole region and an S-pole region; and a guide pin connected to the magnetic member, inserted into the coil and the sliding hole, and being slidingly movable in the sliding hole relative to the supporter.

The coil may be disposed at a fixed position relative to the lens barrel.

The camera module may further include a carrier accommodating the lens barrel.

The driving module may further include a yoke connected to the carrier and configured to generate a magnetic attraction with the driving member.

The camera module may further include at least one ball bearing disposed between the carrier and the driving member.

An outer guide groove may be formed in the carrier, and the at least one ball bearing may be disposed in the outer guide groove.

An inner guide groove may be formed in the driving member, and the at least one ball bearing may be disposed in the inner guide groove.

The camera module may further include a voltage application line connected to the wiper.

An inner surface of the wiper facing the lens barrel may have hydrophilicity.

An inner surface of the wiper facing the lens barrel may have a protrusions and depressions structure.

A cleaning fluid path may be formed in the wiper, and a fluid discharge hole connected to the cleaning fluid path may be formed in an inner surface of the wiper facing the lens barrel.

The wiper may include a transparent material.

The camera module may further include a light incident member of which at least a portion is disposed above an upper end of the lens barrel, wherein the wiper does not contact the light incident member.

Other features and aspects will be apparent from the following detailed description, the drawings, and the claims.

Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements. The drawings may not be to scale, and the relative sizes, proportions, and depictions of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity, illustration, and convenience.

The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein. However, various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein will be apparent after an understanding of the disclosure of this application. For example, the sequences of operations described herein are merely examples, and are not limited to those set forth herein, but may be changed as will be apparent after an understanding of the disclosure of this application, with the exception of operations necessarily occurring in a certain order. Also, descriptions of functions and constructions that would be well known to one of ordinary skill in the art may be omitted for increased clarity and conciseness.

The features described herein may be embodied in different forms, and are not to be construed as being limited to the examples described herein. Rather, the examples described herein have been provided merely to illustrate some of the many possible ways of implementing the methods, apparatuses, and/or systems described herein that will be apparent after an understanding of the disclosure of this application.

The use of the term “may” with respect to an example or embodiment, e.g., as to what an example or embodiment may include or implement, means that at least one example or embodiment exists in which such a feature is included or implemented, while all examples and embodiments are not necessarily limited thereto.

Throughout the specification, when an element, such as a layer, region, or substrate, is described as being “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” the other element, or there may be one or more other elements intervening therebetween, or the elements may be physically connected as well as electrically connected, or the elements may be integral despite being referred to by different names according to position or function. In contrast, when an element is described as being “directly on,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element, there can be no other elements intervening therebetween.

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any one and any combination of any two or more of the associated listed items.

Although terms such as “first,” “second,” and “third” may be used herein to describe various members, components, regions, layers, or sections, these members, components, regions, layers, or sections are not to be limited by these terms. Rather, these terms are only used to distinguish one member, component, region, layer, or section from another member, component, region, layer, or section. Thus, a first member, component, region, layer, or section referred to in examples described herein may also be referred to as a second member, component, region, layer, or section without departing from the teachings of the examples.

Spatially relative terms such as “above,” “upper,” “below,” and “lower” may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element's relationship to another element as illustrated in the figures. Such spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, an element described as being “above” or “upper” relative to another element will then be “below” or “lower” relative to the other element. Thus, the term “above” encompasses both the above and below orientations depending on the spatial orientation of the device. The device may also be oriented in other ways (for example, rotated by 90 degrees or at other orientations), and the spatially relative terms used herein are to be interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for describing various examples only, and is not to be used to limit the disclosure. The articles “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms “comprises,” “includes,” and “has” specify the presence of stated features, numbers, operations, members, elements, and/or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, operations, members, elements, and/or combinations thereof.

Also, throughout the specification, “plan view” means that the subject part is viewed from the above, and “cross-sectional view” means that a cross-section of the subject part cut vertically is viewed from the side.

1 FIG. 2 FIG. 1 FIG. 3 FIG. 1 FIG. 1 30 40 1 shows a camera moduleaccording to an embodiment,is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a light incident memberand a wiperof, andis a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a central area in a vertical direction of the camera moduleof.

1 FIG. 3 FIG. 1 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 Referring toto, a camera moduleaccording to an embodiment may include a lens barrel, a carrier, a light incident member, a wiper, a supporter, a driving module, and a housing.

10 10 10 10 The lens barrelmay accommodate at least one lens. The lens barrelmay have a cylindrically shaped hollow space to accommodate at least one lens that images a subject therein. When a plurality of lenses are provided, the plurality of lenses may be mounted to the lens barrelalong an optical axis OA. The optical axis OA may be oriented in the vertical direction. A plurality of lenses are arranged in a required number according to the design of the lens barrel, and each lens may have optical characteristics such as the same or different refractive index.

10 10 10 1 10 1 10 10 10 10 1 10 1 3 FIG. The lens barrelmay transmit light incident from above downward. An upper part of the lens barrelis a direction in which light is incident from the outside toward the lens barrel, and may be a direction in which an external subject being photographed through the camera moduleis positioned. A lower part of the lens barrelmay be disposed in the camera modulein a direction which light passing through the lens barrelforms an image. In, it is illustrated that the upper part of lens barrelis directed toward the upper part of the drawing, and the lower part of lens barrelis directed toward the lower part of the drawing. Accordingly, the upper part of the lens barrelmay be an upper part of the camera moduleand the lower part of the lens barrelmay be a lower part of the camera module.

20 10 20 10 10 10 20 10 20 The carriermay accommodate the lens barrel. The carriermay accommodate the lens barrelwith a structure that contacts at least a part of an outer surface of the lens barrel. For example, a hole corresponding to the outer surface of the lens barrelis formed in an inner center region of the carrierso that the lens barrelcan be inserted into the carrier.

30 10 30 30 30 10 30 30 30 30 10 30 The light incident membermay be disposed at least partially above an upper end of the lens barrel. The light incident memberis exposed to the outside. The light incident memberis provided with a light-transmitting material and may be disposed on the optical axis OA. For example, the light incident membermay be transparent. Accordingly, external light may be incident into the lens barrelvia the light incident member. For example, the light incident membermay be the uppermost positioned lens among the at least one lens. In addition, the light incident membermay be provided separately from the lens and may be a lens cover disposed above the uppermost positioned lens. The light incident membermay be fixed to the lens barrel. The light incident membermay have a dome structure that is convex upward.

40 10 40 10 40 30 40 31 30 30 The wipermay be disposed in a region where light is incident toward the lens barrel. The wipermay be disposed above the lens barrel. The wipermay be disposed above the light incident member. The wipermay remove a foreign substance from an outer surfaceof the light incident memberwhile moving with respect to the light incident member.

41 40 10 30 31 30 41 40 31 30 An interior sideof the wiperfacing the lens barreland the light incident membermay be curved corresponding to the outer surfaceof the light incident member. In addition, the interior sideof the wipermay not contact the outer surfaceof the light incident member.

41 40 400 40 41 40 41 40 31 30 The interior sideof the wipermay have a protrusions and depressions structure. For example, at least one or more holesare formed in the wiperso that the interior sideof the wipermay have a protrusions and depressions structure. Accordingly, the inner sideof the wiperexhibits a capillary effect through the protrusions and depressions structure, thereby effectively removing a foreign substance from the outer surfaceof the light incident member.

41 40 41 40 41 40 41 40 31 30 In addition, the interior sideof the wipermay be made of a hydrophilic material. For example, the interior sideof the wipermay have hydrophilicity through a plasma treatment. In addition, the interior sideof the wipermay be made of a hydrophilic polymer such as polyvinyl alcohol or other hydrophilic polymer, or may be coated with a hydrophilic polymer. When the interior sideof the wiperhas hydrophilicity, the foreign substance of the outer surfaceof the light incident membercan be effectively removed.

45 40 45 46 40 46 40 31 30 In addition, a voltage application linemay be connected to the wiper. The voltage application linemay be connected to a power supplyfor cleaning. The wipermay be charged by a voltage applied by the cleaning power supply. When the wiperis charged, the foreign substance on the outer surfaceof the light incident membermay be removed more effectively through an attractive force generated by the charge.

50 40 50 200 200 20 200 50 40 The supportermay support the wiper. One end of the supporterin a length direction may be rotatably connected to a pivot pin. The pivot pinmay be connected to the carrier. A length direction of the pivot pinmay extend in a horizontal direction. The other end of the supporterin the length direction may be connected to the wiper.

50 51 52 51 52 10 51 52 40 40 The supportermay include a first supporterand a second supporter. The first supporterand the second supportermay be disposed on opposite sides of the lens barrel. The other end of the first supporterin the length direction and the other end of the second supportin the length direction may be respectively connected to opposite ends of the wiperin a length direction of the wiper.

4 FIG. 3 FIG. 5 FIG. 6 FIG. 5 FIG. 60 51 10 20 60 10 600 20 shows the driving moduleand the first supporterofviewed toward the lens barrel,shows the outer surface of the carrierin a region where the driving moduleis disposed viewed toward the lens barrel, andshows an inner surface of a driving memberfacing the outer surface of the carriershown in.

3 FIG. 6 FIG. 60 40 30 40 60 60 51 200 600 51 60 600 610 620 Referring toto, the driving modulemay provide power for the wiperto move with respect to the light incident member. The wipermay be driven in a sweeping motion by the power provided by the driving module. The driving modulemay provide power to rotate the first supporterabout the pivot pin. A driving membermay be disposed to face the first supporter. The driving modulemay include the driving member, a coil, and a yoke.

600 600 601 601 601 601 601 601 600 51 a b a b a b The driving membermay be provided with at least some regions that are magnetic, and thus it can be moved according to a magnetic force applied from the outside. The driving memberincludes an N-pole regionand an S-pole region, and the N-pole regionand the S-pole regionmay be arranged in a direction crossing the vertical direction. For example, the N-pole regionand the S-pole regionmay be arranged in the horizontal direction. A part of the driving memberis inserted into the first supporterto be slidably movable.

600 20 600 10 20 640 600 20 An inner surface of the driving membermay face an outer surface of the carrier. An outer surface of the driving membermay be face away from the lens barreland the carrier. Ball bearingsmay be disposed between the driving memberand the carrier.

600 601 602 603 The driving membermay include a magnetic member, a guide pin, and a supporting member.

601 601 601 601 a b. The magnetic membermay be magnetic. The magnetic membermay include an N-pole regionand an S-pole region

602 600 602 10 20 601 602 601 601 601 510 51 510 51 602 510 60 602 510 a b The guide pinmay be disposed to protrude a predetermined length outward from the outer surface of the driving member. For example, an inner end of the guide pinfacing the lens barreland the carriermay be inserted into and fixed to the magnetic member. The inner end of the guide pinmay be connected to the magnetic memberin a region where the N-pole regionand the S-pole regionmeet. A sliding holemay be formed in the first supporter. The sliding holemay have a slit shape having a predetermined length in the length direction of the first supporter. The guide pinmay be inserted into the sliding hole. During the operation of the driving module, the guide pinmay slide within the sliding hole.

603 601 603 601 603 601 603 601 601 603 The supporting membermay be disposed in at least some region of an outer circumference of the magnetic member. For example, the supporting membermay be disposed above the top and below the bottom of the magnetic member. In addition, the supporting membermay be provided to surround the outer circumference of magnetic member. That is, the supporting memberis provided as a ring structure corresponding to the outer circumference of the magnetic member, and thus the magnetic membermay be inserted into the inner side of the supporting member.

606 607 600 606 607 At least one of inner guide groovesandmay be formed on the inner surface of the driving member. Length directions of the inner guide groovesandmay extend in the horizontal direction.

606 607 606 607 The inner guide groovesandmay include a first inner guide grooveand a second inner guide groove.

606 600 606 603 601 606 601 601 606 601 601 606 601 601 606 601 601 a b a b a b a b 6 FIG. The first inner guide groovemay be formed in an upper inner surface of the driving member. The first inner guide groovemay be formed in a region of the inner surface of the supporting memberdisposed above the magnetic member. The first inner guide groovemay be formed across a region disposed above the N-pole regionand above the S-pole region. In this case, the first inner guide groovemay have portions disposed above the N-pole regionand above the S-pole regionthat are connected to each other. Alternatively, the first inner guide groovemay have portions disposed above the N-pole regionand above the S-pole regionthat are disconnected from each other.illustrates an example in which portions of the first inner guide groovedisposed above the N-pole regionand above the S-pole regionare disconnected from each other.

607 600 607 603 601 607 601 601 607 601 601 607 601 601 607 601 601 a b a b a b a b 6 FIG. The second inner guide groovemay be formed in a lower inner surface of the driving member. The second inner guide groovemay be formed in a region of the inner surface of the supporting memberdisposed below the magnetic member. The second inner guide groovemay be formed across a region disposed below the N-pole regionand below the S-pole region. In this case, the second inner guide groovemay have portions disposed below the N-pole regionand below the S-pole regionthat are connected to each other. Alternatively, the second inner guide groovemay have portions disposed below the N-pole regionand below the S-pole regionthat are disconnected from each other.illustrates an example in which portions of the second inner guide groovedisposed below the N-pole regionand below the S-pole regionare disconnected from each other.

610 600 600 610 600 600 600 20 610 610 602 610 610 10 20 615 610 20 615 The coilforms a magnetic field around it by the applied electric power, and the interaction between the magnetic field and the driving membercauses the driving memberto move. The coilis spaced apart from the outer surface of the driving member, and thus it may be disposed facing the outer surface of the driving member. That is, the driving membermay be disposed between the carrierand the coil. The coilis provided in a ring shape, and thus the guide pinmay be disposed for insertion into the inner space of the coil. The coilmay be fixed in position relative to the lens barreland the carrierby a coil fixing member. For example, the coilmay be connected to the carrierby the coil fixing member.

620 600 620 601 620 620 20 620 20 620 20 620 600 620 600 620 The yokeis disposed to face at least a part region of the inner surface of the driving member. The yokemay be disposed to face the inner surface of the magnetic member. The position of the yokemay be fixed. The yokemay be connected to the carrier. For example, at least a part of the yokemay be fixed to the carrierby inserting the yokein the carrier. The yokeis made of a material that generates a magnetic attraction with the driving member, and thus a magnetic attraction occurs between the yokeand the driving member. For example, the yokemay be made of a metal material that is a magnetic material.

20 600 620 600 201 202 20 201 202 An outer surface of the carrierand the inner surface of the driving membermay be spaced apart from each other. In addition, an outer surface of the yokeand the inner surface of the driving membermay be spaced apart from each other. At least one of outer guide groovesandmay be formed in the outer surface of the carrier. A length direction of the outer guide groovesandmay extend in a horizontal direction.

201 202 201 202 The outer guide groovesandmay include a first outer guide grooveand a second outer guide groove.

201 620 201 606 201 606 606 606 201 5 FIG. The first outer guide groovemay be disposed above the yoke. The first outer guide groovemay be positioned at a height corresponding to a height of the first inner guide groove. A distance between opposite ends of the first outer guide groovein the horizontal direction may be equal to a distance between opposite ends of the first inner guide groovein the horizontal direction. Regions of the first inner guide groovedisposed at opposite sides in the horizontal direction may be connected to each other. Alternatively, regions of the first inner guide groovedisposed at opposite sides in the horizontal direction may be disconnected from each other. In, a case in which regions of the first outer guide groovedisposed at opposite sides in the horizontal direction are disconnected from each other is illustrated.

202 620 202 607 202 607 607 607 202 6 FIG. The second outer guide groovemay be disposed below the yoke. The second outer guide groovemay be positioned at a height corresponding to a height of the second inner guide groove. A distance between opposite ends of the second outer guide groovein the horizontal direction may be equal to a distance between opposite ends of the second inner guide groovein the horizontal direction. Regions of the second inner guide groovedisposed at opposite sides in the horizontal direction may be connected to each other. Alternatively, regions of the second inner guide groovedisposed at opposite sides in the horizontal direction may be disconnected from each other. In, a case in which regions of the second outer guide groovedisposed at opposite sides in the horizontal direction are disconnected from each other is illustrated.

640 606 607 201 202 640 606 201 640 606 201 The ball bearingsmay be disposed between the inner guide groovesandand the outer guide groovesand. Some of the ball bearingsmay be disposed between the first inner guide grooveand the first outer guide groove. These ball bearingsmay be disposed in regions at opposite sides of the first inner guide grooveand opposite sides of the first outer guide groovein the horizontal direction.

640 607 202 640 607 202 In addition, some of the ball bearingsmay be disposed between the second inner guide grooveand the second outer guide groove. These ball bearingmay be disposed in regions at opposite sides of the second inner guide grooveand opposite sides of the second outer guide groovein the horizontal direction.

5 FIG. 6 FIG. 640 201 202 640 606 607 For better understanding and ease of description,shows the ball bearingsdisposed in the outer guide groovesand, andshows these same ball bearingsdisposed in the inner guide groovesand.

620 600 600 620 620 600 640 600 610 600 20 610 606 607 201 202 640 The attractive force acting between the yokeand the driving membercan prevent the driving memberfrom falling away from the yoke. In addition, the outer surface of the yokeand the inner surface of the driving memberare prevented from sticking to each other by the ball bearings. Accordingly, the driving membercan be effectively moved by the magnetic force generated by the coil. In addition, the driving membercan be effectively moved in the horizontal direction relative to the carrierand the coilby the inner guide groovesand, the outer guide groovesand, and the ball bearings.

70 10 20 60 50 70 The housingsurrounds the lens barrel, the carrier, and the driving module. In addition, the supportermay be disposed inside the housing.

7 FIG. 8 FIG. 60 andshow operation states of the driving module.

7 FIG. 8 FIG. 7 FIG. 610 60 610 1 610 610 610 610 600 610 601 600 51 602 Referring toand, electric power may be applied to the coilof the driving module. The electric power applied to the coilmay be supplied from a vehicle, an electronic device, or other apparatus in which the camera moduleis installed. The electric power applied to coilis provided in alternating current (AC) form, and thus an AC current may flow through the coil. Accordingly, a magnetic field generated around the coilchanges in magnitude and direction. Thus, when the magnetic field is formed in one direction around the coil, the driving membermay move to the left with respect to the coildue to the force acting between the magnetic field and the magnetic memberof the driving memberas shown in. During this process, the first supportermay be rotated to the left as the guide pinmoves to the left.

610 600 600 601 600 51 602 7 FIG. 8 FIG. In addition, when the direction of the magnetic field formed around the coilis opposite to the case shown in, the driving membermay move to the right with respect to the coilas shown indue to the force acting between the magnetic field and the magnetic memberof the driving member. During this process, the first supportermay be rotated to the right as the guide pinmoves to the right.

9 FIG. 40 1 a a is a cross-sectional view of a wiperof a camera moduleaccording to another embodiment.

9 FIG. 400 40 401 41 40 401 400 400 48 47 48 48 1 40 31 30 a a a a a a a a a a Referring to, a cleaning fluid pathmay be formed inside the wiper. A plurality of fluid discharge holesmay be formed in an inner surfaceof the wiper. The fluid discharge holesmay be connected to the cleaning fluid path. The cleaning fluid pathmay be connected with a cleaning fluid supply memberthrough a connection line. The cleaning fluid supply membermay supply a cleaning fluid. The cleaning fluid supply membermay be disposed in a vehicle, an electronic device, other apparatus in which the camera moduleis installed. The cleaning fluid may be a cleaning gas such as air, or a cleaning liquid. The cleaning fluid sprayed from the wipermay perform cleaning by spraying the cleaning fluid toward the outer surfaceof the light incident memberdescribed above.

40 40 40 31 30 30 a a a In addition, the wipermay be made of a transparent material. For example, the wipermay be made of a transparent polymer or other transparent material. Accordingly, even when the wiperis disposed outside the outer surfaceof the light incident member, light can be effectively incident onto the light incident member.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a camera module that can effectively remove a foreign substance attached to a region onto which light is incident can be provided.

While this disclosure includes specific examples, it will be apparent after an understanding of the disclosure of this application that various changes in form and details may be made in these examples without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims and their equivalents. The examples described herein are to be considered in a descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects in each example are to be considered as being applicable to similar features or aspects in other examples. Suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed to have a different order, and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner, and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the disclosure is defined not by the detailed description, but by the claims and their equivalents, and all variations within the scope of the claims and their equivalents are to be construed as being included in the disclosure.